Tamariki at Arowhenua Māori School had an exciting visit from Working Waters Trust in June as part of their Matariki celebrations. Keen kids turned up with gumboots and a change of clothes ready for an adventure to the stream down the end of Huipara Street.
Sophie Allen from the trust gave a talk at the kura about taonga species like whitebait, bullies and tuna, which resulted in millions of pātai and great story-sharing from the inquisitive kids. Sophie also focused on how our native fish have problems like habitat destruction and predation from the introduced trout, and what people can do to help the fish.
Then it was the time the tamariki were waiting for. Sophie had set some Fyke nets and hīnaki the night before. The kura walked down to the stream, and small groups helped Sophie pull up the traps. The best net was saved to last, with four big tuna causing lots of squeals as they flicked around and made croaking noises.
Lots of the tamariki bravely stroked the slimy tuna before they were let go back to their normal lives.
Working Waters Trust is a charity that was formed by freshwater ecologists to help community groups and rūnanga with freshwater restoration projects, particularly for our threatened native fish species. They have projects in Canterbury, Otago and Southland. They are happy to visit schools and community groups for talks.
Go to: www.workingwaterstrust.org for contact details if you would like the trust to visit.
Tamariki, whānau and staff spent the afternoon with Sophie from Waterwise setting out eel nets on the Awarua River to see if they could catch and release. To their surprise they were lucky enough to catch a couple of eels in the pots.
Tamariki with Sophie from Waterwise setting out eel nets on the Awarua River.
Sophie Allen from Waterwise prepares the eel nets.